Align a set of bodies between two edges or faces

[Anonymous]

I have a set of small bodies in a line parallel to the z-axis, and I need to align these bodies to the middle of the larger body (this is a model of an integrated circuit). The set of small bodies only need to be aligned with the larger body in the z direction, and the larger body might have flat or chamfered edges so being able to align between two faces as well as two edges would be very helpful (though if construction planes are necessary that's cool too).

Currently I have to eyeball the placement of the small bodies and then iteratively measure and move them. Kinda time consuming and only as accurate as the decimal precision of the measurement output.

Any improvement would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Chris

[davebYYPCU]

Without your file, is hard to make sensible comments.

Your Timeline has a rectangular pattern.

We can't see the top of the browser, to see if you are using components.

I presume you want to position the pattern of bodies, with the large body cross section centre?

Please, File > Export and attach the file.

[Anonymous]

Thank you @davebYYPCU, I've attached the project as an F3D file. I did indeed use a rectangular pattern and yes, I would like to center the line of that pattern with respect to the center of the large body (although a general solution that allows me to align the rectangular pattern between any two faces or edges would be wonderful).

[rohit.bapat]

Hello @Anonymous

Thank you providing the f3d file. This seems an interesting problem. I have tried to make pins equidistant across the side of the board.

I began at the point where the pins was copy/Pasted in the model. Then with some measurements and previous spacing of the patterns I moved the pin around a bit.

Then did the rectangular Pattern -> Mirror across the plane and then finally circular pattern for 4 sides. I have attached my f3d file also as reference.

 This is the screencast video link just in case it doesn't get through https://autode.sk/2GBEkIL

I hope it will be helpful. If I understood the problem incorrectly please do let me know.

Thank you,

Rohit Bapat

[davebYYPCU]

Your project was symmetrical both ways, 

so another way to tackle it.  make 1 quarter and mirror both ways.

Might help

[Anonymous]

Thank you @rohit.bapat,

Your video reply was much appreciated, and you've taught me how to use the "circular" pattern to put objects around four sides of a cube -- very helpful.

The one piece I missed is perhaps the crux of this issue though -- when you rewound the timeline to reduce the problem to aligning one small object along the edge of one large object, how did you ensure that the small object was precisely where it needed to be to ensure that a line of eight of those small objects would be perfectly centered on the edge of the big object?

Indeed, the problem can be logically reduced (with subsequent pattern and move operations) to the single large object and single small object you started out with in your video -- could you demonstrate for me how to align that small object perfectly between the edges on the adjacent sides of the large object? (Or explain it more slowly, please, if I simply missed the explanation in your video.) A screenshot of the the large object and small object, with the adjacent edges of the large object selected, is attached in case my words are failing to do the problem justice.

Thanks

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

I would locate the first pin by using a formula based on the center line of the chip: ((Spacing*(PinCount-1)) + PinWidth)/2.  Once that pin is located, then a rectangular pattern creates one side and a circular pattern completes the chip. 

I would also draw the first pin on the XY plane instead of the XZ plane as this will allow you to use the above formula in a dimension to locate the pin.

Are the pins really thinner in the middle than they are on the ends?  It might be interesting to use the Sheet Metal workspace to create the pins as you can apply rules for the bend radii.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thanks everyone.

@etfrench's solution should work for my specific issue, and I found a way to align the part after the fact: I made a construction line parallel to the z-axis passing through the center of the larger object and then aligned the smaller object to it.

That solves the pressing need, and I will accept the solution. I'm still interested in how to solve this more generally -- for example, if the two edges or faces I wanted to align an object between were on separate bodies, and not aligned to any xyz plane.  I suppose one could construct a plane through the pair of edges or faces, make a three-point rectangle, and then find the midline -- that ought to at least align the smaller object along one axis of the larger object, but maybe not along all three.

@etfrench-- the pins aren't actually thinner in the middle than on the ends. They do often have a slight angle at the end, and for my purposes the models' "feet" need to be flat, so I compromised and let them be a bit thicker. Honestly though I'm still a CAD beginner, so this was as much a compromise of skill and time as a design choice 🙂